Hluhluwe Imfolozi Park Safari Review

We were very lucky to see a leopard killing an impala. It is so rare to see ... we were absolutely awestruck. We saw the leopard dragging its prey to a tree but it didn't drag it up the tree. I don't know if we scared it off or what, but it then left the impala there and disappeared. It all happened quite fast.

We didn't overnight in the park itself. St Lucia town is nearby and we stayed in a self-catering flat there. It works out quite a bit cheaper than staying in the park itself … important if you're on a budget!

There are about 10 camps in the park, ranging from self-catering bungalows to luxury lodges but no camping facilities.

The gates to the park open at 6am, so we got up early to ensure that we reached the gates about 5 minutes prior to that. We wanted to enter the park as soon as the gates opened to get the maximum game viewing time.

You can buy a map at the entrance gate so it is really easy to go on a self-drive safari at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.

The roads are in good condition and well marked. The routes are beautiful and there are some lookout points and hides to enjoy.

Can you offer any tips and advice to
others planning a visit to the park or any safari?

Definitely bring a camera and video camera, both if you have them! We didn't have any with us on that weekend and were very disappointed that we couldn't record our great sightings. You just never know what you're going to see and should always be prepared.